Osseous metaplasia of the endometrium associated with infertility: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction

Endometrial ossification is an uncommon disease related to secondary infertility and its etiology and pathogenesis are controversial. More than 80% of reported cases occur after pregnancy.

Case presentation

A 33-year-old Caucasian woman was admitted with a history of secondary infertility and with a regular menstrual cycle. She reported a miscarriage at 12 weeks of gestation 7 years previously and subsequent dilatation and curettage in another medical facility. Vaginal ultrasound was performed and showed an intrauterine structure described as a hyperechogenic image suggesting calcification related to chronic endometritis. Office hysteroscopy revealed a wide endometrial cavity and proliferative endometrium, with a coral-like white plaque 1.5 cm in length on the right horn and posterior wall of the uterus. The lesion was treated by hysteroscopy without complications. Microscopic examination showed endometrial tissue with osseous metaplasia in the stroma. Nine months after the procedure, the patient became pregnant spontaneously.

Conclusion

In our patient, hysteroscopy was effective in the diagnosis and treatment of osseous metaplasia of the endometrium associated with infertility.

Introduction

Endometrial ossification is an uncommon disease related to secondary infertility and its etiology and pathogenesis are controversial. More than 80% of reported cases occur after pregnancy [1]. The most widely accepted hypothesis is that ossification represents retained fetal bones following spontaneous, missed, incomplete or therapeutic abortion, suggesting endochondral ossification. It can also be related to transformation of mesenchymal tissue to bone in response to inflammation and the reparative process induced by abortion [2]-[4]. A few cases of endometrial ossification occur after abortion at a very early stage of gestation or without a previous history of pregnancy, suggesting a phenomenon of true heterotopia with metaplasia of mature endometrial stromal cells [5]. Osseous metaplasia is rare and can be misdiagnosed. The gold standard for its diagnosis and treatment is hysteroscopy [6].

We present the case of a patient with endometrial ossification associated with secondary infertility after a miscarriage at 12 weeks, suggesting osseous metaplasia. The patient was successfully treated by hysteroscopy. We also present a literature review.

Case presentation

A 33-year-old Caucasian woman was admitted to our outpatient endoscopic unit with a history of secondary infertility and with a regular menstrual cycle. She reported a miscarriage at 12 weeks of gestation, 7 years previously and she subsequent dilatation and curettage (D&C) in another medical facility. No examinations were performed until this admission, when the patient presented complaining of secondary infertility. Vaginal ultrasound was performed and showed an intrauterine structure described as a hyperechogenic image suggesting calcification related to chronic endometritis. Office hysteroscopy revealed a wide endometrial cavity and proliferative endometrium, with a coral-like white plaque, 1.5 cm in length, on the right horn and posterior wall of the uterus (Figure 1). Biopsy (Novak) was performed and pathological findings showed unspecific chronic endometritis with dystrophic calcification. The lesion was treated by hysteroscopy in a second procedure. Diagnostic hysteroscopies were performed using a Hamou I and II Storz endoscope (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany) with a 30° 5 mm optic system and the uterine cavity was distended with CO₂. Operative hysteroscopies were performed under spinal block anesthesia, with a 10 mm Storz resectoscope. Briefly, the uterine cavity was distended with a solution of mannitol up to a pressure of 100 mmHg, and the endometrial osseous lesion was identified and completely removed using the monopolar cutting loop under hysteroscopic control. There were no operative complications. Pathological examination showed endometrial tissue with osseous metaplasia in the stroma. Nine months after the procedure, the patient became pregnant spontaneously.

Figure 1

Hysteroscopic aspect of osseous metaplasia of the endometrium.

Discussion

As early as 1884, Virchow attributed the formation of bone in the endometrium to spontaneous differentiation of fibroblasts into osteoblasts [7]. In 1923, Thaler et al. linked the presence of this bony tissue to a previous abortion [5]. In 1956, De Brux et al. provided the first description of osteogenesis within the genital tract [8].

Pathogenic mechanisms related to the histogenesis of heterotopic bone into the endometrium are controversial. Many theories have been proposed: osseous metaplasia from multipotential stromal cells, usually fibroblasts, which become osteoblasts [7]; continuous and strong endometrial estrogenic stimulation; retention of fetal bones that secondarily promote osteogenesis in the surrounding endometrium [9]; implantation of embryonic parts without pre-existing bone after abortions at an early stage; dystrophic calcification of retained and necrotic tissues, usually after an abortion; chronic endometrial inflammation such as endometritis or pyometra [10]; and metabolic disorders such as hypercalcemia, hypervitaminosis D or hyperphosphatemia. The actual contribution of these pathogenic mechanisms is unknown [11].

Bhatia and Hoshiko reported a case of osseous metaplasia involving both the endometrium and the endocervix [12]. They believed this could be associated with prolonged chronic inflammation and tissue destruction following repeated spontaneous or therapeutic abortions. Fetal bones might have served as a source of calcium for ossification, but this may be valid only for abortions occurring in the second trimester, when ossification of the fetal skeleton has reached a certain level. Otherwise, ectopic bone formation and calcification result from the insult of chronic inflammation or tissue destruction with repeated abortions [13].

In our patient, the endometrial biopsy provided evidence of unspecific chronic inflammation, which has no well-established relationship with infertility. However, according to Marcus et al., this reactive endometritis was probably caused by the presence of the bone fragments which interferes with blastocyst implantation [10]. Also supporting the presence of inflammation in cases of endometrial osseous metaplasia, it has been documented by Lewis et al.[14] that the removal of bone fragments from the endometrium in these cases reduced the local concentrations of prostaglandin in 50%.

Melius et al. reported two cases of prolonged intrauterine retention of fetal bones following spontaneous abortions 13 years and 14 months before diagnosis [15]. Although this type of entity is different from osseous metaplasia, the histories and symptoms have much in common. The absence of a surrounding tissue reaction and endochondral ossification may differentiate osseous metaplasia from retained fetal tissue. Osseous metaplasia has an endogenous development. In the case reported by Ganem, some of the bone fragments in the endometrium contained marrow [13]. Outside of the bone fragments, the endometrium may occasionally contain foci of calcification.

It is also probable that the concept of a superoxide radical superoxide dismutase system, which plays an important role in endometrial differentiation, may be functional in osseous metaplasia. Chronic post-abortal inflammation due to retained gestational tissues may promote superoxide radical or tumor necrosis factor release from the mononuclear phagocytes. Endometrium deficient in protective superoxide dismutase activity may perhaps present a long lasting insult to the multipotential stromal cells, and this insult may therefore transform these cells into osteoblasts [16].

Reported cases of endometrial ossification frequently have a history of previous pregnancy loss, but most of them do not make any distinction between intrauterine retention of fetal bones and heterotopic bone formation. Among the few reported cases in the literature, the time lag between antecedent abortion and discovery of the endometrial ossification varies between 8 weeks [17] and 14 years [2].

Endometrial ossification may result in secondary infertility, menstrual irregularities, pain or dysmenorrhea [3, 12, 18].

Ultrasound examination plays a primary role in the diagnosis of patients with osseous metaplasia. The characteristic hyperechogenic pattern is strongly suggestive of osseous tissue within the uterus and should be confirmed by hysteroscopic examination.

In most of the previously reported cases, hysterectomy or curettage D&C have been used as treatment, but only a few patients have been treated by hysteroscopic procedures ([Table 1]).

Table 1 Cases report of endometrial osseous metaplasia treated by hysteroscopy

In patients with extensive osseous metaplasia and bony sheets embedded in the myometrium, satisfactory hysteroscopic removal is difficult. In such cases, the utility of laparoscopic control during the procedure has been reported resulting in greater accuracy and prevention of complications such as uterine perforation [4]. Also, ultrasound-guided hysteroscopy may be an efficient method of minimizing complication risks; nevertheless, it depends on the ability of the ultrasound examiner [19].

Conclusion

Hysteroscopy has been shown to be effective in the diagnosis and treatment of cases of osseous metaplasia of the endometrium associated with infertility.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.